突破核心技术
Break through core technologies
Literally: Break through core technology
Use this to describe major R&D milestones or overcoming critical technological barriers in professional contexts.
In 15 Seconds
- Overcoming major technical bottlenecks to achieve mastery.
- A formal term used in business, news, and science.
- Symbolizes innovation, self-reliance, and national or corporate pride.
Meaning
This phrase refers to overcoming major technical obstacles to master essential, high-level technology. It is about moving past a 'bottleneck' to achieve innovation and self-reliance.
Key Examples
3 of 6A news report about a new computer chip
这家公司终于在芯片领域突破了核心技术。
This company finally broke through core technologies in the chip field.
A CEO giving a speech to the R&D department
我们要敢于挑战，努力突破核心技术。
We must dare to challenge ourselves and strive to break through core technologies.
Texting a teammate after fixing a very difficult system bug
兄弟，核心技术终于突破了，代码跑通了！
Bro, we finally broke through the core tech, the code is running!
Cultural Background
The phrase gained massive popularity due to China's 'Made in China 2025' initiative. It is frequently used in the context of the semiconductor industry and AI development. It reflects a national sentiment of wanting to move from a manufacturing hub to an innovation powerhouse.
The Interview Winner
Use this phrase in a job interview for a tech role. It shows you care about high-level R&D and the 'big picture' of the company's growth.
Don't Overdo It
Avoid using this for simple software updates or basic coding. It makes you sound like you're trying way too hard to sound important.
In 15 Seconds
- Overcoming major technical bottlenecks to achieve mastery.
- A formal term used in business, news, and science.
- Symbolizes innovation, self-reliance, and national or corporate pride.
What It Means
Imagine you are building a complex rocket. You have the metal and the fuel. However, you cannot make the engine work. That engine is the 核心技术 (core technology). When you finally solve that impossible puzzle, you 突破核心技术. It is not just fixing a small bug. It is about mastering the 'brain' of a system. It means winning the most important battle in research and development.
How To Use It
You will usually see this in professional or news settings. Use it as a verb phrase. You can say, 'Our company needs to 突破核心技术.' It sounds very ambitious and serious. It is like telling the world you are aiming for the top tier. You usually follow a subject like a company, a research team, or even a country.
When To Use It
Use it in business pitches or meetings. It is perfect for discussing global competition. It is great for news reports about science and innovation. If your engineering team solved a massive, long-standing problem, use it. It adds a sense of 'mission accomplished' and high-level achievement. It shows you understand the industry's biggest challenges.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this for small daily tasks. Do not say it when you learn to fry an egg. Do not use it for fixing a basic WiFi issue. It will sound like you are mocking the phrase. Unless you are being intentionally funny, keep it for big wins. Using it for light tasks makes the phrase lose its power and prestige.
Cultural Background
In China, this phrase is everywhere in the media. It represents the dream of being a global tech leader. For years, many industries relied on imported technology. Now, there is a huge push for 'self-reliance.' People often call difficult tech 'neck-choking' problems. Breaking through is how the industry 'breathes' again. It is a major point of national pride.
Common Variations
You might hear 攻克核心技术 (gōngkè héxīn jìshù). This sounds like a military battle, meaning to 'storm the fortress' of tech. 掌握核心技术 (zhǎngwò héxīn jìshù) means you have already mastered it. 自主研发 (zìzhǔ yánfā) is often used alongside it. This means 'independent research and development.' All these phrases point toward technological independence.
Usage Notes
This is a high-register phrase. It is most at home in professional documents, news reports, and formal speeches. While it can be used humorously in casual settings, its primary function is to denote serious technological progress.
The Interview Winner
Use this phrase in a job interview for a tech role. It shows you care about high-level R&D and the 'big picture' of the company's growth.
Don't Overdo It
Avoid using this for simple software updates or basic coding. It makes you sound like you're trying way too hard to sound important.
The 'Neck-Choke' Connection
This phrase is almost always the solution to '卡脖子' (kǎ bózi) problems—tech dependencies that 'choke' an industry's progress.
Examples
6这家公司终于在芯片领域突破了核心技术。
This company finally broke through core technologies in the chip field.
Standard formal usage in a news context.
我们要敢于挑战，努力突破核心技术。
We must dare to challenge ourselves and strive to break through core technologies.
Used here to motivate a team toward a difficult goal.
兄弟，核心技术终于突破了，代码跑通了！
Bro, we finally broke through the core tech, the code is running!
A slightly hyperbolic and humorous way to celebrate a hard win.
如果能突破电池核心技术，续航就不是问题了。
If we can break through core battery technology, range won't be an issue.
Discussing a specific industry bottleneck.
经过十年的努力，我们终于突破了这项核心技术。
After ten years of hard work, we finally broke through this core technology.
Carries a strong sense of relief and accomplishment.
厉害啊！你终于突破了这台咖啡机的核心技术。
Impressive! You've finally broken through the core technology of this coffee machine.
Using a grand phrase for a trivial task creates humor.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence about a company's goal.
为了不再依赖进口，我们必须在关键领域___。
The context of 'not relying on imports' requires a serious term like 'breaking through core technologies.'
Which verb best fits with '核心技术' to imply a successful breakthrough?
科学家们经过多年研究，终于___了核心技术。
`突破` (break through) is the standard verb paired with `核心技术` to indicate success.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Spectrum of '突破核心技术'
Used as a joke for simple tasks (like fixing a toaster).
I 'broke through' the tech of this toaster!
Casual business talk between engineers.
We need a breakthrough on this core tech.
Official company reports or national news.
The nation has achieved a breakthrough in core technology.
Where You'll Hear '突破核心技术'
Tech Conference
Keynote speaker announcing a new patent.
Research Lab
Scientists celebrating a successful test.
News Broadcast
Reporting on domestic semiconductor progress.
Startup Pitch
Explaining why their product is unique.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt refers to the essential, high-value components of a system, like a smartphone's chip or an airplane's engine. In Chinese, it's 核心技术.
Only if you're being funny. For example, if you finally mastered a very difficult guitar solo, you could jokingly say you 突破了核心技术.
No, it applies to any field involving complex engineering, such as medicine, aerospace, or renewable energy.
创新 is a broad term for any new idea. 突破核心技术 is more specific to overcoming a difficult technical barrier.
It reflects China's national goal of becoming technologically independent and moving away from relying on foreign patents.
Usually, it refers to a group, company, or country. However, a lead scientist might be credited with the breakthrough.
Yes, if you are talking to colleagues about work. It sounds like 'We finally cracked the hard part!'
It means 'to break through' or 'to surpass.' You can use it for sports records too, like 突破纪录 (break a record).
You could say 搞定了最难的部分 (fixed the hardest part), but it doesn't have the same professional weight.
The most common mistake is using it for something easy. It must be a 'core' (核心) problem, not a minor one.
Related Phrases
自主研发
Independent research and development
卡脖子
Neck-choking (referring to tech bottlenecks)
科技创新
Technological innovation
关键领域
Key fields/sectors
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